Preview — A Few Pecans Short of a Pie
by Molly Harper

A Few Pecans Short of a Pie

Sexy school principal Kyle faces the biggest challenge of his career: getting his (pregnant) event planner girlfriend Margot down the aisle before the baby arrives!

Readers first fell in love with big city event planner Margot in the first Southern Eclectic novel, Sweet Tea and Sympathy, as she discovered a long-lost branch of her family—the McCreadys, of McCready's Bait ShSexy school principal Kyle faces the biggest challenge of his career: getting his (pregnant) event planner girlfriend Margot down the aisle before the baby arrives!

Readers first fell in love with big city event planner Margot in the first Southern Eclectic novel, Sweet Tea and Sympathy, as she discovered a long-lost branch of her family—the McCreadys, of McCready's Bait Shop & Funeral Home. To Margot’s surprise, she's taken a liking to life in small-town Georgia...helped along by a romance with the hot elementary school principal.

The two of them have been taking it slow—or they were until Margot gets pregnant! Kyle wants to make an honest woman of her, but Margot's still trying to proceed with caution. After all, she was the best event planner in Chicago before she ever came to Lake Sackett—her wedding has to be perfect, and perfect includes not having the baby halfway down the aisle.

With her trademark witty prose and warmhearted storytelling, Molly Harper’s newest glimpse of the McCready family will be perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Amy E. Reichert....more

I really enjoyed this follow up to the courtship and romance of Margot and Kyle - the main couple from the first book, Sweet Tea and Sympathy. Told from Margot’s POV, we see how she’s faired since settling into her life with her family in Lake Sackett, Georgia. Several months pregnant and trying to plan her wedding, Margot learns what it’s like to be the focus of a large, southern family’s expectations. She’s got aunts who want to mother her, Kyle’s two girls who come with their own worries andI really enjoyed this follow up to the courtship and romance of Margot and Kyle - the main couple from the first book, Sweet Tea and Sympathy. Told from Margot’s POV, we see how she’s faired since settling into her life with her family in Lake Sackett, Georgia. Several months pregnant and trying to plan her wedding, Margot learns what it’s like to be the focus of a large, southern family’s expectations. She’s got aunts who want to mother her, Kyle’s two girls who come with their own worries and concerns, and Kyle’s former in-laws who apparently don’t approve of Kyle remarrying someone else.

While A Few Pecans Short of a Pie could be read as a standalone novella, I don’t suggest it. The story is more “day-in-the-life” of a couple who firmly love one another, rather than one that is about falling in love. We have already witnessed their trials and tribulations to get to this point in a previous book, and watching them deal with the stresses of planning their wedding and life in general is all the more emotional because of it. Additionally, seeing how far Margot has come from when she first moved to Lake Sackett is emotionally rewarding.

In addition to the primary story, we get hints as to the next romance, which will be featured in the upcoming Gimme Some Sugar (April 2019). I’m excited to see poor Duffy finally shake his ex and find the happiness he deserves.

This novella was a perfect little continuation of Margot and Kyle’s story! It let some of the unresolved tendrils from Sweet Tea and Sympathy find natural feeling resolutions. I loved the development of Margot’s relationship with the girls and with the McCready clan in general. And the little glimpses of what we can hope to see in Duffy and Lucy’s book have me all primed for *Gimme Some Sugar*!

Sexy school principal Kyle faces the biggest challenge of his career: getting his (pregnant) event planner girlfriend Margot down the aisle before the baby arrives!

Readers first fell in love with big city event planner Margot in the first Southern Eclectic novel, Sweet Tea and Sympathy, as she discovered a long-lost branch of her family—the McCreadys, of McCready's Bait Shop & Funeral Home. To Margot’s surprise, she's taken a liking to li4 stars—

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 4, 2019

Sexy school principal Kyle faces the biggest challenge of his career: getting his (pregnant) event planner girlfriend Margot down the aisle before the baby arrives!

Readers first fell in love with big city event planner Margot in the first Southern Eclectic novel, Sweet Tea and Sympathy, as she discovered a long-lost branch of her family—the McCreadys, of McCready's Bait Shop & Funeral Home. To Margot’s surprise, she's taken a liking to life in small-town Georgia...helped along by a romance with the hot elementary school principal.

The two of them have been taking it slow—or they were until Margot gets pregnant! Kyle wants to make an honest woman of her, but Margot's still trying to proceed with caution. After all, she was the best event planner in Chicago before she ever came to Lake Sackett—her wedding has to be perfect, and perfect includes not having the baby halfway down the aisle.

•••••••••REVIEW: 4 stars--A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE by Molly Harper focuses on the continuing relationship between event planner Margot Cary, and her fiancé, elementary school principal/single father and widower Kyle Archer whom we met in book one-SWEET TEA AND SYMPATHY.

Told from third person perspective (Margot Cary) A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE follows big city girl Margot Cary as the people of small town Lack Sackett try to take over the wedding plans for Margot and Kyle. Pregnant, and struggling with on-going morning sickness, Margot battles between head and heart as it pertains to the small town ideals, versus a quiet wedding alone on a beach, far, far away. When the busy-body ladies of Lake Sackett continue to ‘offer’ their opinions and ideas for Margot and Kyle’s-no date set-wedding, Margot is of the belief that eloping may be the solution to their current dilemma. Not only does Margot have to deal with family and friends, but Kyle’s ex in-laws chime in their opinions, as well as Kyle’s two school-aged daughters who have differing opinions and ideas of their own.

A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE is a fast paced, novella length story of family and friendship in small town America where everyone knows your name, your business, and your relationship history. We are witness to the struggling relationship between Margot, and Kyle’s two young daughters; as well as Margot’s battle with morning sickness, her family, and her fiance’s ex in-laws. A sweet, fun and honest look at blended families, grieving parents, and second chances at happiness and love.

A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE introduces the heroine in the author’s next instalment- GIMME SOME SUGAR-about a young widow (Lucy Brewer) who returns to Lake Sackett to open a bake shop, and falls in love.

i love this series ... such a great great great series ... love the characters ...each one i have listen to ... so glad i do or did. they are so awesome ... i want everyone to read/listen to this series ... i saw this came out and added it to my audiobook collection. i wish i could pick a character i love ... i mean how can you only pick one?? this series is genius!! so good. like usually u can at least pick a fave ...but each of these books u will fall in love, or just enjoy every single secondi love this series ... such a great great great series ... love the characters ...each one i have listen to ... so glad i do or did. they are so awesome ... i want everyone to read/listen to this series ... i saw this came out and added it to my audiobook collection. i wish i could pick a character i love ... i mean how can you only pick one?? this series is genius!! so good. like usually u can at least pick a fave ...but each of these books u will fall in love, or just enjoy every single second ... like u r back with the fam. how the author "Molly Harper" came up with these quirky, fun, amazing characters. perfect!! and then u miss them when u have not read a Molly book lately. Oh thank the heavens i see that book 6 is coming out April 2, 2019 ... yeah!! it is 3/8 ... i can do that!! "Gimme Some Sugar" ... go PreOrder ... can't wait. happy dance!! made my weekend fabulous!! yeah!! happy book times ( ;...more

This was a cute “check-in” novella that sets up the next book in the series nicely. I enjoyed getting to peek in on Kyle and Margot and the girls, and I was intrigued by Lucy and Duffy and ready to read the next one!

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.I love it.

The author is such a great writer.

My favourite moment is her shaking Lucy's hand gently because she didn't want to damage the pie making hands. I loved her thing with the pecan pies. It was so funny.

Sprinkled here and there are the crazy antics of the town as they prepare for Margot and Kyle's wedding. People expect to be invited, people invite themselves, too much information is given about where and why the vows will be exchanged at a certain place, and funeral homes are offered upI love it.

The author is such a great writer.

My favourite moment is her shaking Lucy's hand gently because she didn't want to damage the pie making hands. I loved her thing with the pecan pies. It was so funny.

Sprinkled here and there are the crazy antics of the town as they prepare for Margot and Kyle's wedding. People expect to be invited, people invite themselves, too much information is given about where and why the vows will be exchanged at a certain place, and funeral homes are offered up to serve as wedding venues.

In the end, it gets too overwhelming and the pressures of wedding planning sucks away all the enjoyment of the actual event. They decided to elope and make the wedding party very small....more

It was nice to revisit Margot and Kyle. I enjoyed their story in the beginning of this series. To see them making their family a family was a great treat.

This book definitely definitely has its funny parts and its sweet parts. The McCready family alone is one of my favorite fictional families.

The downfall to this book is that there is too much filler, trying to give us backstory we already had in the previous books. Even if this is read as a standalone, the repeat of parts of backstory seemed pIt was nice to revisit Margot and Kyle. I enjoyed their story in the beginning of this series. To see them making their family a family was a great treat.

This book definitely definitely has its funny parts and its sweet parts. The McCready family alone is one of my favorite fictional families.

The downfall to this book is that there is too much filler, trying to give us backstory we already had in the previous books. Even if this is read as a standalone, the repeat of parts of backstory seemed pointless and just there to add words to this novella. I would have rathered more sustenance. If you take the backstory out, there isn't much of a story left here.

I am looking forward to the next full length novel in this series in April. Until then, if you haven't started this series, there is no better time than right now....more

I love the Southern Eclectic Series. The premise and characters are just so unique, so special. It has a whole lot of kwerky added for good measure. This novella is the icing on the cake as it introduces us to the upcoming story Gimme Some Sugar. It is the whipped cream on pie because it is so sweet. It is the bite of a hard pecan as poor Margot deals with the challenges of trying to make everyone happy, forgetting that the bride's happiness is just as important.

If you are wondering who MargotI love the Southern Eclectic Series. The premise and characters are just so unique, so special. It has a whole lot of kwerky added for good measure. This novella is the icing on the cake as it introduces us to the upcoming story Gimme Some Sugar. It is the whipped cream on pie because it is so sweet. It is the bite of a hard pecan as poor Margot deals with the challenges of trying to make everyone happy, forgetting that the bride's happiness is just as important.

If you are wondering who Margot is, we met her on You Tube when she was in charge of a charity event whee flamingoes got loose attacking, well.....everything and everyone. Only a family, that she did not know, stand up for her. Fast forward many months later to a five month pregnant Margot that just can't get it together surrounded by a small town with lots of opinions she did not ask for or want. Some of her relatives are the most vocal.

I want to warn readers that you are going to need tissues. I actually read the scene in the children's clothing store four times, bawling each and every time. I don't know what happened to me. I. Am. Not. A. Crier. I will cherish the moment as much as Margot did. So precious.

A few Pecans Short of a Pie was a wonderful invitation, not only to a wedding, but an amazing teaser for Gimme Some Sugar that releases on April 2, 2019. I only have to wait 56 days from today (February 5, 2019) to devour some delicious cake made by Lucy of Gimme Some Sugar....more

This was a short story in this very enjoyable series, read by the wonderful Amanda Ronconi.

In this book pregnant Margo is trying to organise her and Kyle's wedding, but having to cope with family input about who to invite, what wedding dress to wear, etc. etc. - the normal wedding stresses! It all becomes a bit much for the pregnant and very hormonal Margo, and I don't blame her.

I have enjoyed all this series so far, and this was no exception. The only trouble with shorter stories is you want moThis was a short story in this very enjoyable series, read by the wonderful Amanda Ronconi.

In this book pregnant Margo is trying to organise her and Kyle's wedding, but having to cope with family input about who to invite, what wedding dress to wear, etc. etc. - the normal wedding stresses! It all becomes a bit much for the pregnant and very hormonal Margo, and I don't blame her.

I have enjoyed all this series so far, and this was no exception. The only trouble with shorter stories is you want more and they end too quickly. I really look forward to reading about Lucy & Duffy next. If you're looking for a funny, light-hearted series with great characters then this is the series for you....more

A Few Pecans Short of a Pie is a hilarious addition to the tales of the McCready clan. Wedding planning is stressful as event planner Margot very well knows but it is even more stressful for her as she is very pregnant and doesn’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. She is not used to the southern exuberance for interfering. Thank goodness for her cousins Frankie and Marianne or she would be getting married in the funeral home wearing yards of lace and ruffles. But it is all done with good intentioA Few Pecans Short of a Pie is a hilarious addition to the tales of the McCready clan. Wedding planning is stressful as event planner Margot very well knows but it is even more stressful for her as she is very pregnant and doesn’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. She is not used to the southern exuberance for interfering. Thank goodness for her cousins Frankie and Marianne or she would be getting married in the funeral home wearing yards of lace and ruffles. But it is all done with good intentions and love. Margot may not survive such love. This story tells how Margot pulls off her perfect wedding and manages to offend everyone and no one at the same time. I laughed my butt off....more

Setting: Lake Sackett, GA Contemporary Genre: Rom-comMargo and Kyle, the h/H of Sweet Tea and Sympathy, are making wedding plans. Complicated by morning sickness and the interference of McCready family members and random strangers from the grocery store.This is a well-written though not spectacular novella populated by the characters of the series. It is more of an extended epilogue than a story and really not worth a full audible credit.Amanda Ronconi provides her usual performance. She differeSetting: Lake Sackett, GA Contemporary Genre: Rom-comMargo and Kyle, the h/H of Sweet Tea and Sympathy, are making wedding plans. Complicated by morning sickness and the interference of McCready family members and random strangers from the grocery store.This is a well-written though not spectacular novella populated by the characters of the series. It is more of an extended epilogue than a story and really not worth a full audible credit.Amanda Ronconi provides her usual performance. She differentiates between genders well, and her accent doesn’t make the people sound any more hick than they are meant to be....more

This was a fine little after the HEA short - actually on the way to the HEA. Nothing too earth shattering, but then again this series is normally one I listen to on audible, and just reading it instead of listening to the wacky goodness that is the normal reader for the series, didn't have the same zip.

Cute lead up to the next full length book. I like how she broke it up for this series. It gives a broader view of everyone involved, not just the main characters. That and the character of the secondary characters and the town.

Typical Harper, but typical Harper is very good. I enjoy her novellas as both a listener and a creator because they are master classes in how to write good contemporary series with continuing storylines.

My mother remembers an 8-year-old me setting up my “writing office” in our living room by putting her old manual typewriter on the couch next to a toy phone. And I (very slowly) pecked out the story of my third-grade class taking a trip around the world and losing a kid in each city.

I had a dark sense of humor, even then.

In high school, when other girls my age were writing poems about dying unicorMy mother remembers an 8-year-old me setting up my “writing office” in our living room by putting her old manual typewriter on the couch next to a toy phone. And I (very slowly) pecked out the story of my third-grade class taking a trip around the world and losing a kid in each city.

I had a dark sense of humor, even then.

In high school, when other girls my age were writing poems about dying unicorns and bleeding roses, I was writing essays about having political arguments with my dad at the dinner table. (Whoever made the other person laugh at their own political party won the argument.) I knew I wanted to write when I grew up, but I also knew there was very little chance I could make a living writing books, so I went for the next best thing – newspaper writing.

I majored in print journalism at Western Kentucky University and used my shiny new degree to get a job at my hometown newspaper. I married my high school sweetheart, David, a local police officer. And for six years, I wrote about school board meetings, quilt shows, a man “losing” the fully grown bear he kept as a pet in his basement, and a guy who faked his death by shark attack in Florida and ended up tossing pies at a local pizzeria.

I loved my job at the paper. I loved meeting new people every day and never knowing where I would end up. But somehow, the ever-shifting schedules of a police officer and a reporter did not equal "family friendly." One of us needed to take a normal job for the sake of our young daughter. I took a secretarial position at a local church office, which left me with dependably free evenings for the first time in my adult life. David was working the night shift that summer and I was losing.my.mind. We were living in "The Apartment of Lost Souls" while building our new home. This was the place where appliances and small electronics went to die. Every night I would tuck our snoozing child into bed and wait for the washing machine to start smoking or the computer to suddenly flash the "blue screen of death." Then there was the plague of frogs in the bathroom that put our daughter of potty-training for about six months.

Normally, when things get tough, I can take solace in reading. But I surveyed my packing box of favorite books with the apathetic air of someone who stands in front of the open refrigerator for 10 minutes and can't find anything. Nothing sounded good. So I just sat down and started writing something I would want to read.

Being a huge fan of vampire movies and TV shows, I wondered, what would be the most humiliating way possible to be turned into a vampire- a story that a vampire would be embarrassed to share with their vampire buddies over a nice glass of Type O. Well, first, you'd have to make the protaganist a bit of an accidental loser. She's single, almost 30, and a librarian working in the small Kentucky town where she grew up. This "triple whammy of worry" has made her a permanent fixture on her Mama's prayer list. And despite the fact that's pretty good at her job, she just got canned so her boss could replace her with someone who occasionally starts workplace fires. She drowns her sorrows at the local faux nostalgia-themed sports bar and during the commute home, she's mistaken for a deer and then shot by a drunk hunter. And then she wakes up as a vampire.

And thus, Jane Jameson and the wacky denizens of Half-Moon Hollow were born.

It took me almost a year to complete and edit a draft of the book, which I planned as the first in a three-book series. I spent three months using agentquery.com to ruthlessly stalk potential literary agents. (There were a lot of lists involved, I don't want to re-live it.) I was gently rejected by at least half of them. I corresponded with some very nice, very patient people, but ultimately signed with the fabulous Stephany Evans of Fine Print Literary Management. Stephany was willing to take to the time to give me advice on how to imp...more